Through mutual engagement and cooperation Whitmuir Farm and two local schools have succeeded to reduce the school canteen waste far above government waste targets.

A compost and a project

Whitmuir Farm is a working organic farm in West Linton just south of Edinburgh in Scotland. In October 2015 a Big Hanna T75 was installed to help reduce the farms organic waste and turn it into fertilising soil. During the same month they launched the 2000m2″ project, their first rural food waste collection project, funded by Climate Challenge Fund.

Successful reduction

The project engaged a large number of citizens and included two nearby primary schools, West Linton Primary and Newlands School. They were invited to Whitmuir Farm to learn about organic farming, sustainable food production and how to reduce waste. In 2016 the two schools became part of the nextlevel, the “2000m2 Think Global, Eat Local” project with the ambition to reduce waste at the school canteen. The pupils weighed all food waste and divided them into different fractions to highlight what kinds of food that were being thrown away, and how much. Then they launched a campaign to reduce the amount. The result beat all expectations as the pupils reduced the waste by 33 % and managed to surpass the government waste target set for the next decade. Now the schools get visits from both local politicians as well as the organisation Zero Waste Scotland and presented as an inspiration to others.

Local action makes a difference

In all countries in Europe the waste problem is being noticed and the European Commission adopted an ambitious plan for a common waste target in the EU; amongst others a target for recycling 65% of municipal waste and a to reduce landfill to a maximum of 10% of municipal waste by 2030. To decrease the amount of edible food that goes to waste is on of the target issues. In Scotland 600 000 tonnes of food and drink end up in the trash instead of getting eaten – every year. The school project shows what a difference awareness can make. The pupils are now aiming at reducing the avoidable waste at home by 25%.

Zero Waste Scotland exists to create a society where resources are valued and nothing is wasted. Their goal is to help Scotland realise the economic, environmental and social benefits of making best use of the world’s limited natural resources. The organisation is founded to support delivery of the Scottish Government’s circular economy strategy and the EU’s 2020 growth strategy.